Improvement in wagon-locks



nearest tothe observer being removed.

GEORGE F. BURTON, OF MENOMONEE; RIGHT TO ROOKWELL J. FLINT AND vFRANK J.' MCLEAN, OF SAME PLAGE..

"UNITED STATES-[PATENT OFFICE.

wis., AssrcNon or Two-trumps His i IMPROVEMENT IN WAGON-LOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,547, dated November 5, 1878; applicationfiled v v September 21, 1878. i y

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BURTON, of Menomonee, in the county of Dunn and State v of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful V Improvement in Wagon-Locks, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which latter Figure 1 is a plan view of a Wagon-truck having my improved wagon-lock, and showing` some of the 4upper parts in the front broken away in order to expose the parts below. Fig. 2 is al side elevation of the same, the wheelsy Fig. 3 is adetail view of thereach-connectionpartly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 5 is an en-` larged plan view of the front axle-tree, and fifth-wheel. Fig. 6 is avertica'l section of the same in the line w of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view in the line y y of Fig. 5,' showing more plainly one of the locking devices out of action. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the same in theline y y' of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detail view similar to Fig. 7, showin g the lock biting or in action upon the fifth-wheel. Fig. 10 is a perspective view ofthe link whereby the lock is attached to the axle-tree.

The nature of my invention consists in certain constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed, whereby that description of wagon which is provided with a verticallyturning rear reach and a fifth-wheel and locking devices which prevent the front axle from turning independently of the tongue is greatly improved and simplified.

In the accompanying drawings, A A repre: sent the wheels of a wagon; B, the front axletree; C, the rear axle-tree; D, the fifth-wheel, and E the tongue, of a wagon of ordinary construction. A bar, F, is longitudinally attached to the fth-wheel D, and its rear part is connected, by means of eyebolts ef, to the reach of the wagon. This construction permits the parts F and Gr to change their relative positions by swinging vertically upon the lconnections ef without getting out of line.

The tongue E ispivoted to the kin g-bolt H by means of two metal straps, h h', which are fastened to the upper and lower parts of the tongue and move on the upper and lower surfaces ofthe axle-tree B, so as to holdthe tongue up level and permitit'to swing slightly on the king-bolt independently of the front axle-tree. The tongue is provided with two diagonal braces, I, the front parts of which move in sleeves J ,suitably fastened at j to the tongue.

The ends of the braces I are provided with lheads i, which limit the movementof the braces in the sleeves and transmit the mainA portion of the motion ofthe tongue to the axletree B. The said braces are pivoted to links'K,which are fastened to the front axle-tree, B, bym'eans of eyebolts 7c. The brace I and link K are united 4by 'af pivot, L, which also connects' the lower part-s of twolinks, L,as seen in Fig. 8. The

link K consists of a curved rod, having two eyes, k', as shown in lFig'. 10, throughwhich eyes the pivot l is passed. y ,A r p y y The links L are providedwith clamp or griping plates M, arranged'one above andy one below the fifth-wheel D, and provided with journals m, which are fitted into the links L at such distanceapart that when the links stand ver tically, or nearly so, as seen in Fig. 7, the clamp or griping plates M may be freely moved over the fifth-wheel by turning the tongue, but

when the position of the links Lis inclined, as seen in Fig. 9, which position they will assume when either of the front wheels A, by reason of back thrusts, tends to move the front axle independently of the tongue E, the said clamp or griping plates are caused to gripe upon the fifth-wheel and lock the front axle thereto.'

Two springs, N, suitably fastened to the clamp-plates to biteor gripe upon thefthwheel. n

The tongue E is provided with twoarms, O, fastened to it at o, which arms extcnd'to within a short distance of the clamp-plates M,

where they are bent over 'the fifth-wheel, as seen at o1 in Figs. 1 and 5, so as to form-'shoulders or stops for the clamp-plates to abut against, as shown.

The 4axle-tree B is provided with two angular abutments, I), against which the upper clamp-plates M alternately abut, and whereby the respective links I. are prevented from assuming a backward inclination sufficient to cause the clamp-plates to gripe upon the fifthwheel. rIhe king-bolt is connected, by means of a lower brace, Q, with the plate F and fifthwheel D at g, as shown in Fig. 6. The arms O, at their place of fastening, are provided with slots o2, whereby they are adjustable, so as to compensate for wear of the parts of the locking device.

Operation: In a normal position, the wagon appears as shown in Fig. l, the arms O, braces I, and tongue E occupying a central position with respect to each other, and the clampplates M being. inclined forward and ready to gripe upon the fth-wheel. If the right front wheel `A should strike an obstacle'in the road while the wagon is in motion and receive a backward thrust, the lower endsof the links L would thereby be drawn back a short distance and cause the clamp-platesA to firmly gripe the fifth-wheel and immediately-lock the axle-.tree thereto, thus rendering. the axle-tree immovable unless the tongue moves and releasesthe plates. Ifa similar resistance-to the left wheel takes place, the part-s l M D on the left side will operate in the same manner as those on the right. If the tongue E is turned to the left, as shown in Fig. 5, the right sleeve J slides toward the end of the brace I until it strikes the head fi, while the left arm O pushes the left clamp-plate M back against the abutment I into the position shown in Fig. 7, and prevents it from locking the axle-tree to the fifthwheel. y During this operation the clamp-plates on the right side slip forward upon the fthwheel without closingupon-it. This operation ters Patent, is-

1. In a wagon or vehicle, the combination of a swinging axle-tree, a rigid fifth-wheel, and a frictional locking mechanism fastened to the axle-tree and locking itself upon the fthwheel when the axle-tree has a tendency to swing independently of the tongue of the wagon, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a lock for wagons and other vehicles,

the spring N, for keeping the frictional locking mechanism in a condition ready for locking upon the fifth-wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the braces I, sleeves J, and pivoted tongue E, whereby the tongue is allowed to operate the rods O, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a lock for wagons and other vehicles, the arms O, whereby the locking mechanism is prevented from locking the axle-tree to the fifth-wheel when the tongue is turned, substantially as set forth.

-5. The combination of the front and rear bars, F and G, fth-wheel D, and eyebolt-connections cj', substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

' GEORGE F. BURTON. Witnesses:

W. (l. MGLEAN, F. J. MGLEAN. 

